Building More Than Robots: The Power of Teamwork and Problem Solving - Elisabeth Morrow School
Source: https://elisabethmorrow.org/news/building-more-than-robots
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Building More Than Robots: The Power of Teamwork and Problem Solving - Elisabeth Morrow School
Summer is coming! Registration is now open for Summer Explorations: June 22–Aug. 7. Programs for Age 2 through Grade 9 •
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Imagine spaces where gears spin, circuits hum, and ideas take shape. Step into our robotics classes, where our lower and middle school students aren’t just building robots but becoming innovative problem-solvers. Students of all levels – from those who’ve never touched a control hub to those dreaming of complex designs – discover their inner engineer.
Our robotics program is intentionally designed to equip students with crucial skills for the future. In an increasingly digital world, robotics fosters digital literacy, allowing students to become comfortable with technology and its applications. The skills they learn in class will prepare them for future careers in STEM fields and beyond.
Jessie Samuel, our middle school science teacher and robotics instructor, fosters a collaborative environment where “there is a role for everyone,” he says, recognizing the diverse classroom robotics skill levels. This approach encourages students to actively participate, understand their strengths, and ask, “What role best allows me to contribute to our team’s success?” Students work together, selecting roles like coder or builder, ensuring everyone contributes. Even those new to robotics can support the team by following instructions. Samuel also highlights the spirit of mentorship within the program. Once their projects are complete, a handful of his middle school students assist other teams, lending their expertise and support. He calls these helpful students “ambassadors,” recognizing their passion for sharing ideas.
Early Engineering
In the after-school robotics programs for first- through fourth grades, Samuel introduces students to fundamental engineering concepts through hands-on exploration and collaborative projects, focusing on basic coding and simple machine building, inspiring students’ interests in science, technology, engineering, and math. Using the Lego Spike Essentials kit, students learn how to design, build, and program a robot to navigate in its environment. Students develop foundational skills in sequential thinking, basic programming logic, and collaborative problem-solving.
“It’s about seeing each student’s unique strengths and gently guiding them forward,” says Samuel, whose approach extends beyond teaching age-appropriate technical skills by also nurturing essential life skills like time management, patience, and goal-setting. This focus, which Samuel brings to his lessons, empowers students to apply their newfound skills across all areas of their education.
“My favorite thing about the robotics program is being able to develop my ideas and bring them to life by coding them to move and work,” says first-grader Ethan S., who notes that the hardest part of the class was figuring out the right code that would help him with his progress, but he used his skills in problem-solving to try different things until it worked.
“It’s cool to see kids at this age be so interested in coding and understanding how the machine works,” says Samuel. “In my experience, when student agency is at the center of learning, student engagement is high.”
Unlocking Potential
In our middle school robotics elective, students expand their basic building skills by engaging in critical thinking, data analysis, and prototype development to tackle complex design challenges. Students build upon their knowledge of the interactive design process — solutions centered on understanding the needs and behavior of users — leveraging the Lego Spike Prime kit and incorporating more complicated programming language systems, such as Python, to bridge the gap between foundational projects and high school computer science demands.
Samuel explains that this elective builds confidence and adaptability, empowering students to confidently navigate increasingly sophisticated robotics and programming landscapes. Students who have used the Spike app in lower school will find that the familiar workspace provides an easy transition to the more advanced robotics projects in middle school, reinforcing their existing knowledge and fueling their growing interest in robotics and innovation.
“The best thing about the class was battling robots with other students. I learned a lot while competing. If you want to build robots and battle them with friends, it’s the best program to join,” says sixth-grader Arthur C., adding that while getting the Bluetooth to consistently connect required them to develop their troubleshooting skills, the process of figuring out the correct codes to operate their robots was a key learning experience in logic and programming.
Preparing for Tomorrow
“Robotics education isn’t just about building machines — it’s about developing the mindsets and skills needed to lead in an increasingly tech-driven world,” says Head of School Marek Beck, Ph.D. “At EMS, our approach is about igniting curiosity, nurturing problem-solvers, and empowering students to think creatively, work collaboratively, and tackle real-world challenges with confidence. If we want our students to shape the future, we need to give them the tools — and robotics is one of the most powerful tools we have.”
Samuel envisions expanding the robotics program by incorporating projects that simulate real-world scenarios, such as search and rescue robot challenges, where students will research, design, and build iterations of practical solutions to search and rescue vehicles. Additionally, he is exploring the formation of an EMS team to participate in the First Lego League Challenge, a global robotics competition for students ages 9–16 where teams work together to design, build, and program a LEGO robot to complete missions on a themed playing surface.
“Our robotics program serves as a powerful interdisciplinary tool, where our lower school students apply math and science by measuring distances and exploring simple machines, and in middle school, they extend this learning by calculating gear ratios, exploring physics principles, and strengthening language arts skills through documenting and presenting their design processes,” says Samuel.
Samuel’s goal for our EMS graduates is that they leave with a solid understanding of the engineering design process and proficiency in basic programming. “This means they’ll grasp core concepts like sequential logic and understand how algorithms work in computer science and AI,” he says. “It’s not enough to simply define an algorithm; I want them to truly understand its function. They should also be comfortable with fundamental programming elements like loops. Beyond the technical skills, I want them to carry the valuable lessons learned in teamwork, critical thinking, and effective communication.”
There's No Better Time to Support Your Child's Education
Every time you donate to one of Elisabeth Morrow's dedicated funds, you help enrich the daily experiences of our community on campus. STEAM spaces are enhanced, library catalogs are expanded, scholarships are funded, and teachers are hired. Every day, you can see the impact your generous donations have on campus.
Donate to The Apple Tree Fund Today
EMS prepares students for an impressive range of top-tier secondary schools.
Accustomed to a challenging academic environment, EMS students welcome the demands of competitive secondary schools and are often placed in advanced sections where they perform very well.
See where our students have been accepted.
YOUR CHILD WOULD THRIVE AT EMS. SCHEDULE A TIME TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT JOINING OUR COMMUNITY.
Talk with Admissions
Schedule a Tour
Sign up for newsletter updates
Summer is coming! Registration is now open for Summer Explorations: June 22–Aug. 7. Programs for Age 2 through Grade 9 •
Claim your spot!
Skip to content
Imagine spaces where gears spin, circuits hum, and ideas take shape. Step into our robotics classes, where our lower and middle school students aren’t just building robots but becoming innovative problem-solvers. Students of all levels – from those who’ve never touched a control hub to those dreaming of complex designs – discover their inner engineer.
Our robotics program is intentionally designed to equip students with crucial skills for the future. In an increasingly digital world, robotics fosters digital literacy, allowing students to become comfortable with technology and its applications. The skills they learn in class will prepare them for future careers in STEM fields and beyond.
Jessie Samuel, our middle school science teacher and robotics instructor, fosters a collaborative environment where “there is a role for everyone,” he says, recognizing the diverse classroom robotics skill levels. This approach encourages students to actively participate, understand their strengths, and ask, “What role best allows me to contribute to our team’s success?” Students work together, selecting roles like coder or builder, ensuring everyone contributes. Even those new to robotics can support the team by following instructions. Samuel also highlights the spirit of mentorship within the program. Once their projects are complete, a handful of his middle school students assist other teams, lending their expertise and support. He calls these helpful students “ambassadors,” recognizing their passion for sharing ideas.
Early Engineering
In the after-school robotics programs for first- through fourth grades, Samuel introduces students to fundamental engineering concepts through hands-on exploration and collaborative projects, focusing on basic coding and simple machine building, inspiring students’ interests in science, technology, engineering, and math. Using the Lego Spike Essentials kit, students learn how to design, build, and program a robot to navigate in its environment. Students develop foundational skills in sequential thinking, basic programming logic, and collaborative problem-solving.
“It’s about seeing each student’s unique strengths and gently guiding them forward,” says Samuel, whose approach extends beyond teaching age-appropriate technical skills by also nurturing essential life skills like time management, patience, and goal-setting. This focus, which Samuel brings to his lessons, empowers students to apply their newfound skills across all areas of their education.
“My favorite thing about the robotics program is being able to develop my ideas and bring them to life by coding them to move and work,” says first-grader Ethan S., who notes that the hardest part of the class was figuring out the right code that would help him with his progress, but he used his skills in problem-solving to try different things until it worked.
“It’s cool to see kids at this age be so interested in coding and understanding how the machine works,” says Samuel. “In my experience, when student agency is at the center of learning, student engagement is high.”
Unlocking Potential
In our middle school robotics elective, students expand their basic building skills by engaging in critical thinking, data analysis, and prototype development to tackle complex design challenges. Students build upon their knowledge of the interactive design process — solutions centered on understanding the needs and behavior of users — leveraging the Lego Spike Prime kit and incorporating more complicated programming language systems, such as Python, to bridge the gap between foundational projects and high school computer science demands.
Samuel explains that this elective builds confidence and adaptability, empowering students to confidently navigate increasingly sophisticated robotics and programming landscapes. Students who have used the Spike app in lower school will find that the familiar workspace provides an easy transition to the more advanced robotics projects in middle school, reinforcing their existing knowledge and fueling their growing interest in robotics and innovation.
“The best thing about the class was battling robots with other students. I learned a lot while competing. If you want to build robots and battle them with friends, it’s the best program to join,” says sixth-grader Arthur C., adding that while getting the Bluetooth to consistently connect required them to develop their troubleshooting skills, the process of figuring out the correct codes to operate their robots was a key learning experience in logic and programming.
Preparing for Tomorrow
“Robotics education isn’t just about building machines — it’s about developing the mindsets and skills needed to lead in an increasingly tech-driven world,” says Head of School Marek Beck, Ph.D. “At EMS, our approach is about igniting curiosity, nurturing problem-solvers, and empowering students to think creatively, work collaboratively, and tackle real-world challenges with confidence. If we want our students to shape the future, we need to give them the tools — and robotics is one of the most powerful tools we have.”
Samuel envisions expanding the robotics program by incorporating projects that simulate real-world scenarios, such as search and rescue robot challenges, where students will research, design, and build iterations of practical solutions to search and rescue vehicles. Additionally, he is exploring the formation of an EMS team to participate in the First Lego League Challenge, a global robotics competition for students ages 9–16 where teams work together to design, build, and program a LEGO robot to complete missions on a themed playing surface.
“Our robotics program serves as a powerful interdisciplinary tool, where our lower school students apply math and science by measuring distances and exploring simple machines, and in middle school, they extend this learning by calculating gear ratios, exploring physics principles, and strengthening language arts skills through documenting and presenting their design processes,” says Samuel.
Samuel’s goal for our EMS graduates is that they leave with a solid understanding of the engineering design process and proficiency in basic programming. “This means they’ll grasp core concepts like sequential logic and understand how algorithms work in computer science and AI,” he says. “It’s not enough to simply define an algorithm; I want them to truly understand its function. They should also be comfortable with fundamental programming elements like loops. Beyond the technical skills, I want them to carry the valuable lessons learned in teamwork, critical thinking, and effective communication.”
There's No Better Time to Support Your Child's Education
Every time you donate to one of Elisabeth Morrow's dedicated funds, you help enrich the daily experiences of our community on campus. STEAM spaces are enhanced, library catalogs are expanded, scholarships are funded, and teachers are hired. Every day, you can see the impact your generous donations have on campus.
Donate to The Apple Tree Fund Today
EMS prepares students for an impressive range of top-tier secondary schools.
Accustomed to a challenging academic environment, EMS students welcome the demands of competitive secondary schools and are often placed in advanced sections where they perform very well.
See where our students have been accepted.
YOUR CHILD WOULD THRIVE AT EMS. SCHEDULE A TIME TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT JOINING OUR COMMUNITY.
Talk with Admissions
Schedule a Tour
Sign up for newsletter updates